§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure that the principles of neutrality and impartiality currently in the European Union humanitarian regulation are added to the new European Union constitutional treaty. [HL4457]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanOn 4 October, EU member states will launch an intergovernmental conference (IGC) to draw up a new treaty for the EU. EU leaders agreed in June that the draft constitutional treaty drawn up by the Convention on the Future of Europe was a good basis for starting in the IGC.
The Government welcome the proposed inclusion in the treaty of a specific article (III–223) on humanitarian aid. This will provide a clear basis for the EU's efforts in this field.
As currently drafted, the treaty commits the EU to conducting humanitarian aid operations in compliance with the principles of international humanitarian law, in particular the principles of impartiality and non-discrimination. We proposed amendments to Article III–223 to make the objective of humanitarian aid more explicit, including a reference to humanitarian aid operations being conducted in compliance with the principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality. These amendments were not, however, accepted by the convention. We will nevertheless explore the scope for securing them in the IGC.
§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will include a reference to all developing countries, as defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, in the new European Union constitutional treaty. [HL4458]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanOn 4 October, EU member states will launch an intergovernmental conference (IGC) to draw up a new treaty for the EU. EU leaders agreed in June that the draft constitutional treaty drawn up by the Convention on the Future of Europe was a good basis for starting in the IGC.
The Government welcome the draft treaty's commitment to the eradication of poverty as the primary objective of EU development policy. However we agreed at the convention that there was still more to do on the articles relating to development co-operation. We proposed amendments to Article III–218 on development co-operation to clarify that the Union objective of poverty eradication covers all developing countries. These amendments were not, however, accepted by the convention. We will nevertheless explore the scope for securing them in the IGC.
33WA
§ Lord Tebbitasked Her Majesty's Government:
How the United Kingdom's opt-out of the single currency provisions of the Maastricht Treaty will be preserved after the coming into force of the proposed European Constitution. [HL4400]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord Mclntosh of Haringey)The draft treaty produced by the European Convention confirms that "those Member States which have not adopted the euro, and their central banks, shall retain their powers in monetary matters." (1–29.4). The draft treaty does not alter the terms of the UK's Economic and Monetary Union protocol.